Broken and/or worn out...do you keep? - Page 2

Kitlynn · ‎03-09-2010

I think our grandparents and our parents grew up in an era of Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. We grew up in what they refer to as the disposable era. For myself I don't like broken or chipped things at all. I think keeping a true keepsake that reminds you of someone you love is fine but just because someone gives you something if it isn't a treasure to you then I say pitch it. We can't keep everything or we would have no place for the things we really do need and use. I go through every drawer, cabinet and closet at least every two years and if we don't use it, need it or love it then it gets thrown out , donated or given away. I find that really does cut down on the clutter and things we really don't want.

2blonde · ‎03-10-2010

I think it's mostly a generational thing. Those older people lived through the great depression, and they learned to scrimp on everything. I'm not as old as that, but as a child I had very little in the way of toys and clothes (my parents were alcoholics). I learned to improvise by literally making my own toys and taking my older sister's hand-me-downs, and altering them on my mom's sewing machine so they would fit me.

You can't change who you are........I still have a tendency to try to make things work before I give up on them. Sometimes duck tape and superglue have been my best friends, but I DO have my limits!

Laura loves cats!

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

When we moved to Florida I packed the entire house in the time it took my husband to clean out the garage. He had never once cleaned it in 28 years. The shelves were full of empty bottles and I'd go in there while he was working on cleaning it out to find him peering into a bottle trying desparatly to find an excuse to save it. For some reason throwing things away is painful to him. Finally i had to pack the garage and throw all thoise bottles of stuff with only 3 drops left in them away.

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

Times have changed. For many of us, our parents and grandparents lived through the Great Depression and had that "depression mentality" where you made do by repairing what you had and using hand-me-downs. I can recall my mom telling about wearing her brother's shirts as her blouses and sticking a piece of cardboard inside your shoes if a hole wore through the sole. People lived frugally and waited as long as possible before spending money on clothing and such. Nowadays society has taught us to want the best and we should have the best. Through advertising and the "keeping up with The Joneses mentality", people replace things at a much faster pace rather than repair what they have or just waiting to make a purchase. For the life of me, I can't figure out how some people can afford the several hundred dollar purses, designer clothing, certain cars, or houses they buy except that they must be in debt up to their eyeballs.

ccassaday · ‎10-21-2010

Lol. My dad is the king of keeping broken junk. We are decluttering for a move and he had like three broken rakes in the shed.

PINKdogWOOD · ‎05-13-2010

@Mominohio ...if only....just kidding (on the DH!!!)

I empited one of 2 china cabinets a few weeks ago and there were a couple of broken items. Of course I threw them away - what's the use, no longer worth anything if at all. They were collectibles his Dad had given his Mother for years of christmases. I told DH ahead of the job that we both knew there were a couple of broken items and I was going to be getting rid of them.

He freaked when he actually believed that I had tossed them. "They're worth thousands of dollars" he said to me. "Are you kidding me?" I said. Get over it dear!

No, I don't keep anything that's broken, chipped etc. Not worth it, just the same old dust collectors. DH is such a pack rat it's unbelieveable, drives me crazy.

ALRATIBA · ‎07-15-2016

Broken and/or worn out ... it goes out immediately.

Unused ... I periodically go through and get rid of that stuff that I no longer use. My buildng has a recycle area. I leave the stuff there and our maintenance staff takes care of it.. Most of it ends up getting donated somewhere. I have a couple of kitchen appliances and two vacuum cleaners that I need to take down there.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@PINKdogWOOD wrote:
@Mominohio ...if only....just kidding (on the DH!!!)

I empited one of 2 china cabinets a few weeks ago and there were a couple of broken items. Of course I threw them away - what's the use, no longer worth anything if at all. They were collectibles his Dad had given his Mother for years of christmases. I told DH ahead of the job that we both knew there were a couple of broken items and I was going to be getting rid of them.

He freaked when he actually believed that I had tossed them. "They're worth thousands of dollars" he said to me. "Are you kidding me?" I said. Get over it dear!

No, I don't keep anything that's broken, chipped etc. Not worth it, just the same old dust collectors. DH is such a pack rat it's unbelieveable, drives me crazy.

@PINKdogWOOD

And people just don't seem to realize that glassware and collectibles with chips, cracks or repairs have virtually no value, unless very old with historical significance. Doesn't matter if you paid hundreds/thousands of dollars for it, and they sell on ebay for $$$, if it is broken/chipped/cracked, it's pretty much worthless.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

Several months ago I cleaned out my linen closet. Had several old blankets, some worn and some never liked. Many worn towels, too. Lots of old sheet sets that I no longer wanted. Bagged them all up and hauled 'em over to our largest animal shelter. I can't give them enough.

ccassaday · ‎10-21-2010

I think you guys are right as to why people do this. My dad grew up with nothing. Although he isn't a depression era child I think this has a lot to do with why he hoards broken things.